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Shortly after distributing the cereal bars to the refugees, the boy notices the presence of nearby elves.
The elves, in turn, apply medicinal herbs and plants to the wounds of those around them, — some sitting on the ground, others receiving treatment while standing due to their more superficial bruises.
In addition to the constant application of herbs and plants to their wounds, the elves also use reddish vials on the patients, which are ingested shortly thereafter.
"Are these HP potions? Probably. The way they recover after drinking them is proof."
"I don't even know why I'm still surprised, considering this is a fantasy world. Well, I'll ask about it later. For now, let's keep handing out the cereal bars."
...
After hours of handing out food, the boy finally decides to leave the shelter for a few minutes to get some fresh air.
Despite the help he has given, the food he has handed out, and the fleeting stories he has heard from strangers, Rei still feels that the atmosphere in this place is heavy and unsettling, making him restless.
He walks for a few minutes until he sees the entrance to the shelter in the distance. But before he can go any further, he comes across the figure of a man leaning against the stone wall of the corridor.
The man, sitting on the ground, seems dejected and melancholy about something. Though his expression is hidden by the long hood covering his head, you can tell he's going through a rough time.
"It's none of my business, but I should do something... He looks really bad, maybe he lost someone important."
"Well, whatever. I'll just give him a granola bar and go. I can't get involved in other people's problems. My compassion should be enough."
With this thought in mind, the boy approaches the man a few moments later.
— Here, I know it's not much, but I hope it helps — he says, opening the leather pouch and offering the cereal bar to the man.
When he reaches out and takes the cereal bar, the stranger, still looking at the ground, hesitantly replies:
— Thanks.
He speaks in a weak and despondent tone, as if he doesn't even have the strength to form more than two words.
"This doesn't feel right. His voice is completely lifeless. Even though I can't see his face, I can assume that he's really not okay.''
"I should just walk away. The way he was talking, maybe what he needs most right now is just time."
With this short deduction, he steps away from the stranger and starts walking towards the exit of Svishtar. After a few steps, however, he hears the man's voice again.
— If you could go back to the past, would you do it all over again?
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, the boy approaches the stranger again and crouches near where he is sitting.
— Don't you think it would be kind of boring if that happened? — he replies with another question.
— What?
Hearing this answer, the man lifts his head in surprise. At that moment, his red eyes become visible, —a color so concentrated and intense that they barely seem real.
Noticing that the man's attention is now on him, the student begins to explain.
— I don't know what you're going through right now, but you shouldn't let yourself sink because of what happened, man…
— We don't have the power to control events, so what's the point in thinking things like "I wish I could go back," "If I could, I'd do things differently," or even "If I could, I'd do it all over again"?
— I believe that, regardless of what happened or what will happen, we should always try our best, without dwelling on the past or worrying about an unpredictable future.
For some reason, Rei finds it easy to put his thoughts into words. He continues to try to explain as much as he can, even without knowing if he's expressing himself correctly.
— Well, — he scratches the back of his head — I know it's really easy to say all this, especially for someone like me who hasn't lost anything important in this war.
— But I hope this answers your question in some way. — As soon as he finishes saying what he wanted, the student stands up and turns his back, ready to leave.
The man, surprised by the boy's response, grabs his arm for a brief moment before he can walk away.
— Thank you. I wasn't expecting that — he declares, looking deep into his eyes.
Somehow, the man's demeanor has changed. Now he exudes confidence. His posture, which was hunched just a few moments ago, straightens up like a model, and even the tone of his voice changes... He seems like a completely different person now.
Without realizing it, Rei's face turns red as he looks into those ruby-like eyes, as if they were tiny gemstones.
He replies as seriously as he can, not paying much attention to the adrenaline rush he feels at this moment.
— Well, I hope you find what you're looking for... — he says goodbye before turning away and walking away quickly.